Toy sphere



1967 J. SULYMA ETAL 3,334,915

TOY SPHERE Filed Aug. 2, 1965 INVENTORSZ Jbkrz SuZ ma W/Wezafidra a? ma,

United States Patent 3,334,915 TOY SPHERE John Sulyma and Alexandra Sulyma, both of 3401 Whitman Way, San Jose, Calif. 95132 Filed Aug. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 476,492 4 Claims. (Cl. 280206) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An amusement apparatus consisting of a plurality of pairs of connected hoops of comparable diameter arranged transverse to each other, to provide a spherical cage in which a seat of flexible material arranged within and parallel to one pair of such hoops has its aft end secured to a second pair of such hoops and its fore end secured to a third pair of such hoops and provided with a seat belt for securing a passenger therein; the sphere having a handle bar and a foot rest in combination with such seat.

This invention relates to amusement devices and more particularly to an exercising and recreational apparatus in the form of a spherical cage.

The present invention is embodied in a rollable type cage of a size to receive a person and provided with a seat and foot and hand grips whereby such person can generate motion to the sphere in various directions.

The invention resides in the novel construction of such device and has as its principal object to provide a cagelike vehicle which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and highly efiicient in use. In this regard it is an object to provide a cage-like vehicle with a minimum of parts which when knocked down, i.e., disassembled, can be packaged in a compact unit in a minimum of space for storage and shipping.

It is another object of this invention to provide a cagelike vehicle from a plurality of hoops or endless rings of substantially equal diameter, the hoops being arranged in parallel pairs, each pair being secured to the other pairs at the points of contact therewith.

It is a further object to provide a cage-like vehicle in which at least three pairs of spaced hoops of comparable diameter are joined to one another to form a substantially spherical unit. In connection with the foregoing it is still a further object to provide the spherical unit thus formed with an internal seat and foot and hand grips so arranged as to enable a person seated within the sphere to maneuver the same by momentum.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description in the light of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cage-like vehicle constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1 as seen from the side opposite to that shown in FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a front view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 and as seen from the left hand side of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail section through a typical connection between parts of the cage.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the typical joint or connection between parts of the cage.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing indicates a vehicle consisting of a plurality of hoops 11 of comparable diameter arranged in pairs A, B and C and secured together by a simple joint 12 at their points of contact 13 to form a cage-like sphere 14. The hoops of each pair of hoops A, B and C are parallel and spaced from each other substantially the Width of a persons body.

3,334,915 Patented Aug. 8, 1967 For purposes of orientation the hoops A are considered fore to aft of the vehicle 10; the hoops B side to side of the vehicle, and the hoops C horizontal relative to the vehicle. The arrangement is such that the four spaced fore to aft and side to side hoops form a base within which a smaller hoop 15 is disposed to tangently contact these four hoops. The smaller hoop 15 is secured to each of the larger hoops contacted thereby by the typical joint 12 (later to be explained).

Each of the hoops 11 as well as the smaller one 15 is an endless tubular member which may be made of any suitable material. Preferably, each of the hoops 11 and 15 are made of approximately one inch plastic tubing of sufficient rigidity to maintain its shape yet resilient enough to conform for construction with another at the point of contact 13 therewith.

The joint 12 may consist of any well known means for securing two such tubular members 11 or 15 together at their respective points of contact 13. In the drawing the typical joint 12 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to comprise a machine screw 17 threadedly connected to a sleeve nut 18 which telescopically receives the threaded end 19 of the screw 17. The screw 17 and sleeve nut 18 each have a countersunk head 17 and 18', respectively, and of oval head design to conceal these heads within the orbit of the hoops to be joined.

Each hoop 11 and 15 has a diametric bore 20 the-rethrough. A screw 17 extends through one of the hoops to be joined and a sleeve nut 18 extends through the other at each point of contact 13. The resilient material from which the hoops are made is such as to yield under the pressure of the countersunk heads 17-18' when the nut 18 and screw 17 is in place and tightened upon one another. The heads 17'18' thus seat themselves well within the orbit of the hoops engaged thereby. In the event the hoops are made of metal the latter is countersunk at the admittance opening of the bores 20 to thereby assure concealment of the heads 1718 relative to the orbit of the hoop engaged thereby.

A seat 21 is mounted within the sphere 14 to accommodate a passenger. The seat 21 is suspended from the lower one of the hoops 11 of the horizontal pair C and is spread between the fore to aft pair A of the hoops. The

forward end 22 of the seat is a foot rest stretched across 'between the hoops 11 of pair A and secured thereto by means of a screw and nut arrangement 23. The after end of the seat 21 is a back support 24 which extends upwardly within the orbit of the hoops A and has its upper end secured by means 23 to the rearmost hoop 11 of the side to side pair B thereof.

As seen in the drawings, the seat 21 has a seat belt or strap 25 associated therewith in the region of the hips or waistline of an occupant for holding him in the seat. The foot rest 22 at the fore end of the seat has secured thereto a pair of toe or foot engaging loops '26 of woven fabric or the like. The passenger having his feet in the loops 26 and his hips strapped into the seat 21 by the belt 25 is bound into the sphere 14 such as to affect movement thereof. In addition to the foregoing, a handle bar 27 is provided on the fore to aft pair A of the hoops in the region of the upper one of the horizontal pair of hoops C. The handle bar 27 is secured to a pair of brackets 28 each in turn secured to a respective hoop 11 of the fore to aft pair A thereof. These brackets 28 each have a slanted upper portion 29 which is suitable for supporting a panel 30 which may simulate the instrument board of a space craft or the like.

The handlebar 27 has suitable hand grips 31 at its outer ends' which are disposed in reach of the occupant for gripping the same in each of hishands as shown. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3 it will be noted that the hand grips 31 extend sidewise of the fore to aft hoops C. By this arrange- 3 ment the occupant can affect maneuverability to the sphere 14- by altering his center of gravity within the latter.

The vehicle thus formed is of such dimension that the occupant can enter and leave the sphere by crawling through one or another of the triangular openings between any one of the pairs of hoops. With the cage-like sphere 14 resting on its base ring or hoop 15 there is sufiicient stability to enable him to get into the seat 21, strap himself into the same and slip his feet into the loops 26 on the foot rest 22. By gripping the hand holds 31 on the handle bar 27 the occupant is now able Within limits to change his center of gravity relative to the sphere 14 to thereby cause the latter to roll about.

Having thus described the structural aspects of the spherical vehicle of the present invention in specific detail it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the same may be susceptible to variation, modification and/ or alterations without departing from the spirit of our invention therein. We therefore desire to avail ourselves of all variations, modifications, and/ or alterations as may fairly come within the purview of the appended claims.

What we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In an exercising and amusement apparatus of the spherical cage type having a diameter such as to receive a human being as a passenger in a sitting posture comprising a plurality of endless hoops of comparable diameter arranged in pairs, the first of which pairs of hoops is disposed in parallel relation in one direction and spaced from each other substantially the width of a human being, a second pair of such hoops disposed in comparable spaced parallel relation in a direction transverse to said first one of such pairs of hoops and in contact therewith, and a third pair of hoops disposed in a similarly spaced parallel relation in a plane transverse to each of said first and second pairs of such hoops and in contact therewith, means for securing all of said hoops to one another at their points of contact with each other, a seat arranged within the spherical cage thus formed and of a width to span between said first pair of hoops, said seat having a foot rest at its fore and secured to one of said third pair of hoops and having a back supported between said first pair of hoops and secured thereto to form a back rest for said seat, a seat belt on said seat for securing a passenger therein, and a handle 'bar secured to said first pair of hoops between said third pair of hoops and having hand grips disposed in reach of the hands of a human being seated in said seat.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a pair of hoops on said footrest for receiving and holding the feet of a passenger in said seat, i

3. In an exercising and amusement apparatus of the spherical cage type having a diameter such as to receive as a passenger a human being in a sitting posture, such cage type sphere comprising a plurality of endless hoops of comparable diameter arranged in pairs, the first of which pairs of hoops is disposed in parallel relation in one direction and spaced from each other substantially the width of a human being, a second pair of such hoops disposed in camparable spaced parallel relation in a direction transverse to said first one of such pair of hoops and encompassing the latter at points of contact therewith, and a third pair of hoops disposed in a similarly spaced parallel relation in a plane transverse to each of the first and second pairs of such hoops and encompassing the latter at points of contact therewith, a fourth hoop of a diameter comparable to the spacing of said first and second pairs of hoops relative to each other and tangently engaging the same in parallel relation to said third pair of hoops and beneath the latter to provide a base for such sphere, means for securing all of said hoops to one another at their points of contact with each other and said fourth hoop to said first and second pair of hoops where it tangently engages the latter, a seat arranged in such spherical cage of a width between said first pair of hoops, said seat having a foot rest at its fore end secured to one of said third pair of hoops, said seat extending rearwardly from said foot rest between said base hoop and said third pair of hoops and having a back supported between said first pair of hoops and secured thereto, means for securing the upper end of the back of said seat to one of said hoops of the third pair of hoops, a belt on said seat for securing a passenger therein, and a handle bar secured to said first pair of hoops between said third pair of hoops and having hand grips disposed in reach of the hands of a human being seated in said seat.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 having a pair of foot receiving loops on said foot rest for holding the feet of a passenger in the said seat.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,521,133 12/1924 Tinker 280206 2,019,728 11/1935 Ranck. 2,948,531 8/ 1960 Johnson 280206 3,156,486 11/1964 Fenwick 280206 FOREIGN PATENTS 755,799 9/1933 France.

KENNETH H. BETTS, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN EXERCISING AND AMUSEMENT APPARATUS OF THE SPHERICAL CAGE TYPE HAVING A DIAMETER SUCH AS TO RECEIVE A HUMAN BEING AS A PASSENGER IN A SITTING POSTURE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ENDLESS HOOPS OF COMPARABLE DIAMETER ARRANGED IN PAIRS, THE FIRST OF WHICH PAIRS OF HOOPS IS DISPOSED IN PARALLEL RELATION IN ONE DIRECTION AND SPACED FROM EACH OTHER SUBSTANTIALLY THE WIDTH OF A HUMAN BEING, A SECOND PAIR OF SUCH HOOPS DISPOSED IN COMPARABLE SPACED PARALLEL RELATION IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO SAID FIRST ONE OF SUCH PAIRS OF HOOPS AND IN CONTACT THEREWITH, AND A THIRD PAIR OF HOOPS DISPOSED IN A SIMILARLY SPACED PARALLEL RELATION IN A PLANE TRANSVERSE TO EACH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PAIRS OF HOOPS AND IN CONTACT THEREWITH, MEANS FOR SECURING ALL OF SAID HOOPS TO ONE ANOTHER AT THEIR POINTS OF CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER, A SEAT ARRANGED WITHIN THE SPHERICAL CAGE THUS FORMED AND OF A WIDTH TO SPAN BETWEEN SAID FIRST PAIR OF HOOPS, SAID SEAT HAVING A FOOT REST AT ITS FORE AND SECURED TO ONE OF SAID THRID PAIR OF HOOPS AND HAVING A BACK SUPPORTED BETWEEN SAID FIRST PAIR OF HOOPS AND SECURED THERETO TO FORM A BACK REST FOR SAID SEAT, A SEAT BELT ON SAID SEAT FOR SECURING A PASSENGER THEREIN, AND A HANDLE BAR SECURED TO SAID FIRST PAIR OF HOOPS BETWEEN SAID THIRD PAIR OF HOOPS AND HAVING HAND GRIPS DISPOSED IN REACH OF THE HANDS OF A HUMAN BEING SEATED IN SAID SEAT. 